Inflatable boat



Dec. 20, A V RSO INFLATABLE BOAT Filed May a, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flxe/ l4 finders 0n ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1932. A. v. ANDERSON 1,891,491

INFLATABLE BOAT Filed May 3, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR flze K nderyon BY l I Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .AXEL V. ANDERSON, F BEACON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NEW YORK RUBBER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION" OF NEW YORK INFLATABLE BOAT Application filed; May 3, 1930. Serial No. 449,384.

. This invention relates to pneumatic or inflatable boats.

The invention hasfor its salient object to provide a simple and practical method of making an inflatable or pneumatic boat in such a manner as to require a minimum number of operations- Another object of the invention is to provide a boat of the character described of such shape and contour as to render the boat easier to handle and more 6111018111, in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic boat that is simple and practical in construction and can be economically manufactured.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a boat constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the flexible blanks or sheets of material after they have been subjected to pressure and vulcanizing heat 3 is asectional elevation showing a mold for forming the boat and the seats of flexible material therein; I

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of the boat taken substantially on line 4.-4 of F a Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the boat;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the boat shown in Figs. 1 and5;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the boat shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the pneumatic chambers showing the bottom secured thereto; and

Fig. 9 is a. transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 6.

' The invention briefly described consists of a boat formed from two sheets of material, preferably cloth or fabric having a coating 'of'unvulcanized or uncured rubber on one face thereof. The sheets after having been cut to the proper size and shape are placed in a mold having ribs or projecting portions so formed as to'secure the unvulcanized faces of the sheets together in such a way as to form'a pair of longitudinal chambers which are hingedly connected at their ends; The sheets'are pressed togetherunder heavypressure and a vulcanizing heatis applied either simultaneously with the pressure or subsequent thereto, whereby vulcanized joints will be formed between the she'etsin such a manner as to form the longitudinal chambers. The material disposed at the center or bottom of the chambers is then cut out.

The chambers are then inflated with air and are bent downwardly about the hinged ends thereof and while held in this position a sheet of material is secured across the bottoms of the chambers and extends around the outer portions and upwardly along the sides. This sheet forms the bottom of the boat. As the bottom sheet is secured in the manner just described while the chambers are pressedtoward each other about their hinged ends,the ends ofthe chambers turn upwardly, thus forming upturned ends for the boat;

Further details of the invention will appear from the following description. 7 7 5 In the embodiment of the invention-illustrated, there is shown in Fig. 3 a mold comprising a pair of mold members 10 and 11 having projecting therefrom oppositely extending ribs or webs 12, 13, 14 and 15. Any suitable means may be utilized for heating the mold sections, such as steam pipes16 and 17. The ribs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are shaped in the manner shown in Fig. 2, which shows-the sheets of material after they have been com- '85 pressed and vulcanized. Two sheets of material A and B, preferably formed of cloth or fabric having a coating of uncured or unvul canized rubber on one face, are pressed between the mold members, as shown in Fig. 3, with the unvulcanized faces in contact with each other. When subjected to pressure and heat the vulcanized joints 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

and 25 are formed. The joints 24 and 25 form the hinge connections between the chambers 26 and '27. Valves'28 and 29 of suitable construction are secured to the chambers 26 and 27 and the chambers can be inflated therethrough.

lVhen the blanks or sheets of material come from the mold there is a central portion 30 disposed within or between the chambers 26 and 27. This portion is then cut out and is utilized to form the seats 31 and 32.

After the chambers 26 and 27 have been formed in the manner described and have been inflated, they are bent downwardly in the manner shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and a bottom sheet 35 is secured across the bottoms of the chambers and extends upwardly around the lower halves of the outer walls, as shown at 36. The portions forming the joints 20 and 23 are folded upwardly, as shown in Fig. 8, and are secured in this position by reinforcing strips 38 which extend around the boat and cover the joints mentioned and the upper edges of the bottom 35.

, When the chambers are folded or bent downwardly in the manner shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the hinged ends thereof turn upwardly in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and after the bottom has been secured in position the boat retains this shape.

The seats 31 and 32, as above described, are formed from the portion 30 of the material which is cut out. The seat strips are thus double in thickness and the two plies are joined along their longitudinal edges but are open at the ends. The seats are secured across the upper portions of the chambers and extend around the outer upper surfaces, as shown in Fig. 4:. In order to stiffen the seats, boards 4:0 may be inserted between the plies of fabric forming seats before the boat is inflated.

The boat shown in Fig.1 has upwardly extending perforated lugs 41 and 42 secured thereto to form oar locks and also has loops 43 secured to the outer periphery, within which a rope 44 is placed.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that a simple, practical and efficient method of making pneumatic or inflatable boats has been perfected and that the boat made by this method is thoroughly practical and efficient. e

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the method steps outlined, and the particular details of construction may be varied and changed without departing from the spirit cr'scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims. What I claim is:

l. The method of making an inflatable boat which consists of forming a pair of longitudinal chambers hinged together at their ends, inflating said chambers, pressing the chambers toward each otherabout the hinged ends, and securing a sheet of material to the bottoms of the chambers while they are so held, whereby the ends of the boat will turn upwardly.

2. The method of making an inflatable boat of flexible material which consists of placing sheets of material having faces of unvulcanized rubber with their rubber faces 1n contact, pressing and vulcanizing said sheets along lines forming a pair of longitudmal chambers, hingedly connected at their ends, removing the material between the chambers, and securing a bottom sheet to said chambers on the bottoms thereof.

3. The method of making an inflatable boat of flexible material which consists of placing sheets of material having faces of unvulcanized rubber with their rubber faces in contact, pressing and vulcanizing said sheetsalong lines forming a pair of longitudinal chambers, hingedly connected at their ends, removing the material between the chambers, inflating said chambers, pressing the. chambers toward each otherabout the hinged ends, and securing a sheet of material to the bottoms of the chambers while they are so held, whereby the ends of the boat will turn upwardly.

4. An inflatable boat comprising a pair of longitudinal chambers, hingedly connected at their ends by pressing together and uniting the walls of the chambers, whereby when inflated the ends will be caused to turn upwardly, and having a bottom secured to said chambers and closing the space therebetween.

5. An inflatable boat comprising a pair of longitudinal chambers, hingedly connected at their ends by pressing together and uniting the walls of the chambers, and having a bottom secured to said chambers and closing the space therebetween, the hinged ends of the chambers being caused to turn upwardly during the inflation thereof relatively to the remaining portions thereof.

. 6. An inflatable boat comprising 'a pair of I to said chambers and closing the space there between.

7 An inflatable boat comprising a pair of longitudinal chambers having hingedly connected upturned ends formed by pressing together and uniting the walls of the chambers.

8. An inflatable boat comprising a pair of longitudinal chambers having the ends thereof upwardly curved and separated by common hinge seams formed'by pressing together and uniting the walls of the chambers.

9. An inflatable boat comprising a pair of longitudinal chambers having the ends thereof upwardly curved and separated by hinge seams uniting the walls of the chambers, the

said chambers and secured thereto, the ends of said strip being open to receive a stiffening member.

11. A collapsible and inflatable boat having a continuous substantially oval-outline Wall formed of Waterproof material and normally adapted to assume a tubular cross-section when inflated, the said wall being divided into two chambers by a flat seal extending transversely of each end thereof, on a bisecting line the boat.

12. A collapsible and inflatable boat enibodying a Wall composed of two pieces of waterproof material, substantially elliptical in contour, superimposed one upon the other and united along their inner and outer edges and at each end, from their inner to their outer edges, on a line longitudinally bisecting line to form the sides and portions of the ends of the boat, the inflation of said Wall to a pre determined pressure producing a torsional movement of portions thereof adjacentits ends to elevate the ends to a plane above the plane of repose of the intermediate portions of the wall.

13. A collapsible and inflatable boat including a contour-imparting buoyant member comprising an element composed of waterproof material adapted tobe inflated to a substantially tubular cross section the said element being approximately elliptical in outline and sealed transversely at each end on the major axis of the ellipse by the formation of a relatively flat surface, such seals providing two non-communicating chambers in said element, each, extending from end to end thereof on opposite sides of said axis the inflation of said element by the introduction of a gas to said chambers distending said element between the aforesaid flat end surfaces, and effecting a torsional movement in the portions thereof adjacent the respective ends which Will elevate each of the flat end surfaces to a horizontal plane above that of the top of the intermediate sections of the element, thereby providing a boat shape embodying sides which are substantially parallel midship and converge at each end With an upward curvature; and a bottom united to said element in tension, said bottom cooperating with the curved end portions there-- of to form the respective ends of the boat.

14. An inflatable boat comprising a pair of longitudinal chambers hingedly connected at their ends on a common axial line, and stiffening and bracing means extending across between said chambers and connected thereto for holding the chambers apart, said means consisting of a seat secured to the upper portions of said chambers.

15. An inflatable boat having longitudinal pneumatic chambers, a flexible bottom secured to the bottoms of the chambers, and bracing means extending across the boat and parallel to the longitudinal axis of AXEL V. ANDERSON. 

